Organic esters and method for their production



PatentedJan. 2,1940 2 185 297 aissao'z ORGANIC ESTERS AND METHOD FOR THEIR PRODUCTION Walter E. Gloor, Parlin, N. 1., assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Applicationseptember 23, 1936,

- Serial No. 102,163

11 Claim!- (CL 260-488) 2.: invention relates to esters of aliphati aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol is rapidly depoiyhydric nitro-alcohols with monobasic organic composed, such as, for example, the lower fatty acids and to compositions in which such organic acids. ic a p o c id. buty c ac d, esters are present as an ingredient. aromatic acids, as benzoic acid, toluic acid, etc.

E An object of this invention is the provision of The temperature at which the rate of decomposia new group of chemical compounds which are tion oi an aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol deoi particular advantage as plasticizers for composes depends upon the particular alcohol cellulose esters,asnitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, d p n the conditions f re i n I will. etc, cellulose others, chlorinated rubber, natural however, be found that the rate of decomposition u "ilm! etc. of an aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol in an m A iurther object of this invention is to provide esterification medium does not become rapid at compositions of cellulose acetate plasticized with a temperature below 210 C.

monobasic organic esters of aliphatic polyhydric The anhydride of a monobasic organic acid nitro-alcohols which are particularly adapted for which Imay use to esteriiy the aliphatic polyum'r'co STATES. rn'rsrrr omcc u use as molding compositions. hydric nitro-alcohol may be an anhydride of any 1 The new esters in accordance with this invenmonobasic organic acid, which is sufllciently retion are esters of an aliphatic polyhydric nitroactive to undergo an esteriflcation reaction at a 01, and are characterized by containing sometemperature below that at which the aliphatic where in their structure an aliphatic -C-N0r polyhydric nitro-alcoholis rapidly decomposed,

m group. This group of compounds is entirely such as, for example, the anhydrides of acetic w W ct'irom the aliphatic nitrates which contain acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, benzoic acid. the group -C--O-NO=, and from the aromatic toluic acid, etc. nitro compounds which contain the -NOz group The esterification reaction, in accordance with w to a carbon atom in an aromatic ring. this invention, will desirably be carried out at a The method in accordance with this invention temperature below 210 C., and preferably within cots oi esteriiying an aliphatic pclyhydric the range of about 100 C. to about 150 C. The nitro-alcohol with a monobadc organic acid or an reaction will preferably be carried out in the prese of a monobasic organic r:- dride. ence of an esterliication catalyst, such as, for The aliphatic polyhydflc nitro-alcohol which I example, zinc chloride, p-toluene sulfonic acid,

may esterlfy is characterized by con 11.1111 somebenzene sulionic acid, xylol sulfonic acid, sulfuric so where in its structure the -G-NO2 group and acid, pyridine, etc. I two or more hydroxyl groups, and may be, for ex- In the 'esteriilcation reaction, in accordance ample, trimethylol nitromethane, ethylol' 111- with this invention, the removal of the water troethane, tri-alpha-ethylol nitrometne, dimproduced in the reaction is facilitated by carrying ethylol nitropropane, dimethylol nitrobue, 1-1 out the reaction under reflux in the presence of as ethylol-i-nitrcl-hydroxy butane. etc. an azeotrope such as toluene, separating water The aliphatic polyhydrlc nitro-alcohols which from the condensate, and returning the azeotr'ope i may esterify may be conveniently prepared by to the reaction. Alternately, the anhydride of condensation of an aldehyde with an aliphatic the acid of which the ester is desired, is reacted compound contaig a nitro group, such as, for with the aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol in the epl a nitro-hydrocarbon, a nitro-alcohol. presence of pyridine with or without one of the etc. Thus, ior example, dimethylol nitro ethane other csteriflcati'on catalysts mentioned.

may be prepared by the alkaline condensation of The following example further illustrates the formaldehyde with nitroethane. Triethylol nimethod in accordance with this invention.

tromethane may be similarly prepared by the condensation oi acetaldehyde with nitrornethahe. I WW I 45 aliphatic polyhydnc nm'oalcohcls Pumas-non or Dmn'mnor. Nrraonrnnnn Drllor example, be prepared by the condensation of ACETATE idehyde with l-nitropropane, Z-nitropro- M pane, i nltrc-Z-methyl propane, etc. One moi (101 grams) of dimethylolnitroethane 50 The monobasic organic acid whi h I may use and 2.4 mols (144 grams) of glacial acetic acid to esteriiy the aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol were mixed with '15 grams of toluol and 2 grams of 1 1: be any monobaslc organic acid which is sufilp-toluene sulionic acid. This mixture was boiled ciently reactive to undergo an esteriflcation rebeneath a reflux condenser'provided with a gradaction at a temperature below that at which the dated tube for separating the water given off by u vacuum were increased and the product, 611- methylol nitroethane diacetate, is distilled over as a clear colorless oil.

EXAMPLEII Pmmriou or TaIMETnYLoL Nrraonmnmr: Tar.

PBOPIONATI:

One mol (151 parts by weight) of trimethylol nitromethane was refluxed for three hours with 7.2 mols (938 parts by weight) of propionic anhydride in the presence of one mol (79 parts by weight) of pyridine and 2.0 parts by weight of zinc chloride. This reaction mixture was then cooled, poured into ice water and allowed to stand until the unreacted propionic anhydride is'deadmixture with other plasticizers, as plasticizers in cellulose acetate plastics. These products give good colloiding and non-evaporating properties in plastics and will be found to be highly resistant to heat, light, and water, and to be good solvents for poorly miscible material, such as triphenyl phosphate.

The following table illustrates compositions, made in accordance with this invention, which are suitable for use as molding plastics.

Table II ExampleNo .1 2 3 4 5 i6 7 8 Cellulose acetate (62% acetic i a 32 32 32 32 32 I 32 32 32 Dimethylol nitroetiiane diroprionatc l2 D ethylnlnitropropane dipropionate l2 c Trimethylol nitromethsne I etc., and will be found to be valuable plasticizers in coating compositions and molding plastics of various types.

The products in accordance with this invention are particularly suitable for use either alone or in composed. This mixture was then extracted with Trtirlgigteligiglmfiiirofiiififig M I ether, the ether etitaciaqrlieutrai ized dr i d, argd Trg lti fifhggaamg fiitii fi 213823 em a? $231.3; isififien, i'siizffiffiiiiifiif ii 2 and is trimethylol nitromethane tripropion egg f fffffff{f*fj f; V H 6 The chemical formulas and properties of repre- Mgelig cynagehthalyl methyl- 6 w 5 sm gma; assesses? this 6 5 Table I 332 5 @3 0 Z'fiiititi 'lrimethylol nitromothano triaoctato-.. nlcoooom 1.289 14585 ite-17o onecooonr- -No,

mooooomcm Trlmethylolnitromothancfllpmpiomto- CHaCHa-COO.CHr- -N0s 1.171 1.4480 170-186 H8 coucmom Hicooaomcmcm Trimothylolnitromothano trl-bu ynm. cmcmomcoooni- N0, 1.115 1.4480 185406 I H'CIOOO'CH Ha 000.0Ha0HaCH:

Dimcthylol nitroethano discetate CH1. N0a Lil) 1.4425 iiiz-lw m 000.0111 mooooomcm Dlmcthylolnitrocthancdipmlllflnmuu om. .No. 1.142 1.4420 150-105 H, .ooobmom mcooocm Dimcthylolnitmpropono diastolic"-.- GHaOHe .N0 1,152 ass -155 CH: cmonooaom Trialpharcthylol mcemeumne u-iaeaclhoooc- -N0| 1,4461

n-oooom Plastics may be prepared from the above compositions by colloiding the composition, as, for example, with the aid of a mixture of equal parts alcohol and acetone on a diflerential two-roll mill. The plastic so produced may be sheeted,

and then molded into the desired form, and will the found to be tough, water-resistant, well bonded and of good clarity.

It will be understood that the details and examples hereinbefore set forth are illustrative only, and that the invention as herein broadly described and claimed is in no way limited thereby.

aroma? "wmrcmmaismwpmmtwuum Patent 18:

l. ethylol nitromethan'e triprcpionate.

2. Trimethylol nitromethane tributyrate.

3. A'method for the production 0! an ester of an aliphatic polyhydric, nitro-alcohol selected from e group consisting oi trimethylol nitromethane and dimethylol nitroethane which ccmtro-alcohoi with a reagent from the group consisting of propionic acid, butyric acid. propionic anhydride. and butyric anhydride in the presence of an esteriflcation catalyst.

5. A method for the production of an ester of an aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol' selected from the group consisting of trimethylol nitro-- picnic anhydride. and butyrlc anhydride in the presenceoianesteriiicationcatalyatatatunperature not exceeding about 210 C.

'l. A method for the production of an ester 0! an aliphatic poiyhydric nitro-alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethyloi'nitromethane and dimethyloi nitroethane which comprises heating the said v l ilhatic po yhydrlc nitro-alcohol with a reagent from the group consisting of propionic acid. butyric acid. propionic anhydride, and butyrio anhydride at a temperatisiaewithin therangeoiabout 100C.toahout a c I 8. A method for the production of an ester d an aliphatic Dolyhydric-nitro-alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethylol nitromethane and dimethylol nitroethane which comprises hes-tins the said aliphatic pclyhydric nitroaloohol with a reagent from the group consisting ot propionic acid, butyrlc acid, propionic anhydride, and butyric anhydride in the presence of an esteriiication catalyst at a temperature within the range oi about 100 C. to about 150- 6., 9. An ester of a lower fatty acid selected from the group consisting of propionic acid and butyric acid with an aliphatic polyhydric nitro-alcohol selected from the group consisting of trimethylol nitromethane and dimethylol nitroethane.

10. An ester of propionic acid with an aliphatic polylwdrlc nitro-alcohol selected from the 81'0"! consisting. of trimethylol nitromethane and dimethylol nitroethan'e. 3 7' v .-11.'An ester of butyric acid with an aliphatic yhydric ultra-alcohol selected iron the group consisting of trimethyloi nitromethane and dimethylol nitroethane. I

WALTER I, 61003. 

